In this week’s news from the light rail sector – winning ideas from Tyne & Wear young inventors, more frequent services in Blackpool, engineering work in Sheffield and on Luas and NET joins City hospitality association.

One of the leading advocates for preserving light rail’s rich heritage is standing down from his role as chairman of a high-profile forum representing the UK’s historic tramways and museums.

Friends and colleagues from across the sector paid tribute to Geoffrey Claydon at the latest meeting of the UKTram Heritage Group, which he has chaired since its inception.

A tireless campaigner for tram preservation, his work for the group followed a distinguished career that saw him play a key role in shaping modern light rail networks.

Over many years, Geoffrey has made a massive contribution to the sector, and his experience, expertise and enthusiasm will be greatly missed by all who have worked alongside him, and you can read more here.

NET

The tram network has become the latest members of the Nottingham Hospitality Association (NHA) – a membership-led, not-for-profit organisation that represents the unified voice of the hospitality industry in the region.

With over 18 members across the city and wider Nottinghamshire area, the NHA typically works with key hotels, tourism destinations and hospitality venues, but NET will become the organisation’s first ever public transport member.

Its unique membership recognises the vital role of the tram in supporting Nottingham’s hospitality sector, offering convenient, affordable travel between the region’s many hospitality venues and tourism destinations.

For the full story, click here.

Blackpool Transport 

From June 26, trams will run up to every 12 minutes Monday to Sunday with extra services at peak times throughout the summer.

The operator will also have more of our colleagues back out on the tracks to help customers hop on and off safely, be on hand to help with tickets and of course, use their excellent local knowledge to assist visitor with their queries.

The changes are outlined in full roundup of Blackpool Transport services here.

Sheffield Supertram

Engineering works affecting Yellow and Blue route services will take place over the Queen’s Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend to enable essential repairs to take place in the Infirmary Road area.

During the four days of the bank holiday weekend, from Thursday, June 2 to Sunday the Blue route will operate between Halfway and Shalesmoor only. There will be no service between Malin Bridge and Shalesmoor.

Meanwhile, the Yellow route will operate between Meadowhall and Shalesmoor only, and there will be no service between Middlewood and Shalesmoor. Click here for more information.

Tyne & Wear Metro

A seat just for dogs, a Metro carriage just for kids, an app for visitors and a ticket booth that gets people moving were the winning ideas in a competition ran by Tyne and Wear Metro for young inventors.

Nexus, who operate the system, worked with creative education organisation Little Inventors on the Metro Invention Challenge.

Primary school children from across Tyne and Wear were invited to invent something that might make journeys on Metro even more fun as part of a challenge funded by Arts Council England through its National Lottery Project Grants programme.

As reported here, it is part of Tyne and Wear Metro Community Takeover, which aims to help celebrate Metro’s 40-year anniversary.

Luas

There will be temporary changes to Green Line operating hours over the next two weekends to facilitate essential engineering works.

Red Line operating hours are not affected by these works although on Bank Holiday Monday (June 6) Red and Green Line services will run to a Sunday timetable and further details can be found here.

Heritage

Following the suspension of tram services, as reported here, Crich Tramway Village has partially reopened with reduced admission process.

Single day admission price will be £10.00 for adults and free for children, and a planned Seaside Event will also go ahead without running trams or access to the Exhibition Hall, tram depots and indoor play area. For full details, click here.

To be included in the next round-up, or the Members News section of the UKTram website, send your press releases to info@uktram.co.uk